Burt's Greenhouses wins Agri-Food Innovation Award

The innovative efforts of Burt's Greenhouses in Odessa were recognized on May 28th at the Regional Awards for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence.  When Brian Burt and Alex English were looking into biomass heating systems for their greenhouses, they could not find exactly what they needed.

To find the solution, they re-designed an existing system from the ground up.  The results are impressive with lower emissions, the potential for a by-product that can be used to fertilize soil, and an astounding 65 percent savings in heating costs.  Instead of using 120,000 litres of heating oil a year, the owners instead use wood construction waste, making the operation clean, green, and far less expensive.

The Premier's Awards for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence are a five-year, $2.5 million program from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural affairs.  The program is currently in it's fourth year.  Up to 55 regional award winners are chosen annually, with each receiving a $5,000 cash prize. From these winners, a Minister's Award of up to $50,000 (this year's winner - Tigchellar Berry Farms Inc., Niagara Region) and a Premier's Award of up to $100,000 (Leamington Area Drip Irrigation Inc., Essex County) are selected.

For more information about the Premier's Awards for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence, including application forms and previous winners, please click here.